Apparatus for moving earth



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"H. A. G ARSON. Apparatus for Moving Earth. No. 228,980. Patented June 22,1880.

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H.'A. oARsofi. pparatus for Moving Earth.

A No. 228,980.

Patented June 22, I880.

is two metal straps, of which fis the front one.

UNITE STATES PATENT ,OFFIcE.

' HOWARD A. 'GARSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.-

APPARATUS FOR ovme EAR'TH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,980, dated June 22, 1880.

Application filed February 27, men.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known thatI, HOWARDADAMS GAR- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing ,atBoston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful System and Apparatus for Hoisting and Moving Earth, in Trenches; andI do hereby declare the following to-be afull, clear,-and exact description of the invention, such as will.

enableothers skilled in the art to which it uppertains to make and use the same, reference bein had to the accom ran i'n drawin s and- .to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification;

By this system fonr orally other number'of tubs and contents are hoisted in the trench,

then moved horizontally over and lengthwise of said trench as far as desirable, and there dumped. The tubs are then returned and lowered to the points from which they were originall y hoisted, and the process repeated by substituting tubs'which have been filled while the others were gone.

The apparatus-isso arranged that the same power for this hoisting and moving horizon-' tally will usually be an engine with windingdrums but, where desirable, other sources,

' such as horses, 850., may be employed.

The figure marked 50, Sheet 1, is an elevation of about one-half of one of the tubs used in this apparatus. 'The half of the tub not 7 shown is exactly like that shown.

straight cylindrical neck; neck is the sliding piece (I.

The trunnions, of which a is one, are placed so as to be below the center-of gravity of the loaded tub, which will thus readily turn and discharge tits load, if

not kept upright by a suitable device.

To the bail b is welded a hook, 0, having a Encircling this The false bail e is rigidly connected with the sliding piece (I by The false bail shuts into and can be lifted out of a notched plate, g, on each side of the tub.

bail b, so that the latter cannot revolve on the on the jaws 1).

trunnions awhen the former is 'shut intothe notched plate g.

\Vhen the loaded tub supported by the hook 0 its load can be discharged bylifting the false bail out of the notchedplate. =This lifting is effected automatically in this system by means of the device shown in section near the sliding piece Two hingedplates of metal, 1' c',=are so plaeed'as to be inclined slightly upward in the direction in which the 'tnbs are compelled to move, one end of the plates being slightly lowerand the other end being an-ineh or so higher than theshelf of the sliding piece d when the false bail and plate game in engagement. A top view of the hinged plates 73 t is given in Fig. 58, Sheet 3.

Asthe tub is moved along horizontally toward the dump it (the tub) passes under the pair of hinged plates ii, the slide d just above and touching said plates, and'by reason of the inclined position of the latter the slide d is thus raised, drawing the false bail c-with it, and the loadis discharged. The slide (Z falls toits normal position after passingthe plates i.

When the tub returns toward the place of hoisting the'slide dpassesunder the plates 17, which, being hinged,'readily lift. The bolts k, with their nuts, allow the plates 71 to be precisely adjusted as to height.

In the group of figures marked 51 on Sheet 2, Zis a bolt having an eye at its lower end, through which may be attached the hook c of the tub lately described. This eyebolt has a grooved opening near its upperend, that permits the wire rope onto be passed through and are called a cone, though having at its base an inverted hollow frustum.

' Fig. 62, Sheet 2, gives a section of the cone and eyebolt (but without the rope m) at right angles to the view in group 51. The base of the cornea serves as aseat, allowing it to rest In the group at 51, however, the jaws are shown in an open position. They will be further alluded to.

- spliced backto itself, so that the rope m'ln ay too the track, and therefore never move except ing the connecting-bar o to the left the crank which are not shown on Fig. 53, are rigidly Fig. 52, Sheet 2, is a side, and Fig. 53 an end, elevation of a traveler which forms a prominent part in this apparatus. r is a grooved hoist ing-sheave, around part of which passes the hoisting-rope m.

In the side plates, s, are bored holes for the trunnions' t of the jaws p. A nearly rectangular hole in the side plates, 8, allows the cone n to be seen resting on the jaws 12. To these side plates is attached the crank it. By pullto can be partially revolved and its horizontal leg lifted. If, new, the cone a has been pre-' viously lifted from the jaws 1), the horizontal leg of the c'ank a will engage successively. the pins 10 of the jaws p, and said jaws will be turned into an open position. The rectangu- Zar hole in the side plates allows thejaws p to i'reelyopen and close, notwithstandin the projecting pins 10.1 t It will be seen that by pulling-the rope m over the sheave r a tub attached to the eyebolt 1 might be elevated until the cone a had passed through the jaws p and the latter turned back to their resting-places. The rope in might then be slacked, and the cone a would rest on thejaws p and sustain securely the loaded tub. A piece of bent iron, 14, is bolted to the tops of the side. pieces, .9. This bent piece 14 has a holelarger than the diameter of the rope 'm, but small enough to arrest the upward ascent of the cone or. A section through the middle of the bent piece 14,0n a vertical plane perpendicular to the plane of projection of Fig. 52, is given in Fi 61, Sheet 3.

The traveler is provided with grooved wheels q, whichallow itto move ona single rail with its lead. The tendency of the traveler to move in the direction of the horizontal pull on the hoisting-rope is resisted by buffers :11, which are pulled against stationary counter-butters on the frame-work which supports the track. ltis to be particularly noticed thatif'sufticien t space is allowed above the wheel 1' any number of ropes may passthrough and connect with the same hoisting-drum or other source of power. This arrangementenables any number of tubs to be siiiniltanelonsly hoisted, secured to the same npmlier.of travelers, and then moved horizontally back and forth by the same engine. Fig. 59, Sheet 3, isa plan section on line 20 21 of Fig. 53, Sheet 2, showing the bull'crs .rlr oi. a traveler nearly touching their corresponding counter-builers 17. The latter,

attached to the frame-work which supports when the whole frame-work is moved.

It is to beremarlved that in a train of travelcrs, such as 52 5:5 52 52, Fig. 56, Sheet 3, the bullets of the traveler nearest the hoisting engine and farthest from the place to which the loaded buckets are to be drawn are shortest, and the lengths oi the bui'l'ers increase on 1 each consecutive traveler. Thecounter-but'iers nearest the hoisting-engine approach nearest moved too far.

to the middle line of the travelers, and in succession recede therefrom as the lengths of theircorresponding bufi'ers increase. This is indicated by the Diagram 60, Sheet 3, where the lengths of the buii'crs to increase, while the distance of the corresponding counter-butters from the middle line of the travelers increases from the left to the right of the diagram. This arrangement prevents the buffers of one traveler from engaging with the counter-boilers corresponding with any other traveler when the loaded train is moved to the right or when it is returned empty to the position shown in the diagram. 7

Fig. 54, Sheet-1, is a side elevation, showing the device nsedin this app-a atus for connecting several sheave-ropes with one drum-rope. The wire ropes terminate in eyes, through which are attached 'one end oi the double hooks y. The other ends of the hooks y are attached to such links of the chains 2 asshall make the proper adjustment of lengths for seating the cones (such as a, Sheet 2.) Each chain is fastened by a bolt between twoplates, 1, which are connected by a link, to the swivel and shackle 2. On the drum-rope and near the shackle 2 is firmly spliccd a swelling, 3, called a turks head. This drum rope passes through a hole in a timber, 22, which is firmly attached to the frame-work supportin g the track. Said hole has a diameterslightly greater than that of the drum-rope, but less than that of the turks head. The perforated timberin connection with the turks head thus forms a stop on the drum-rope, and when properly adjusted prevents the latter from being The small traveler, .4, having a grooved wheel running on the same track as thelarge travelers, Figs. 52 and 53, Sheet 2, takes up the sag in the systculof ropes.

Fig. 55, Sheet 1, is an end elevation, showing the track 5, on which run the grooved wheels of the travelers before mentioned. It is stifl'ened by a strip of metal, 6, inside, and by a, strip of wood, 7, outside the track,.and two strips are continuous and break joints with each other. The two strips also serve as fish-plates at the joints in the tack. At such intervals as the ordinary load requires are placed suspending-rods 8, of. wood, which are attached to the track and strips by round-headedbolts. The clamps 9 9 inclose a plank stringer, which latter rests on any suitable truss or trestle work. Obviously metal might be substituted for wood in members 7, 8, and 9.

, Fig. 56, Sheet No. 3, is an elevation, and Fig. 57 a plan, showing one form of this system and apparatus now in use (February, 1880) in excavating for a sewer.

For the sake of clearness, no details are given in Figs. 56 and 57 except such as are necessary to understand the relative disposition of parts and the general method 'of working. 10 is a division of the trench where excavation is going on. 11 is a division where the sewer is built. The earth excavated in 10 is dumped on the completed sewer at 11. Be

tween 10 and 11 are one or more divisions of trench (not shown) where the excavation is completed and the" processes of building the sewer or preparing its foundation are going on. In 10 it is. supposed that the tubs 50 are .full and just being hoisted, while the tubs 50 in 11 have just been dumped.

Operations are continued as follows: The tubs 50 are hoisted by the drum 12 until their conesQsuch' as n, Fig. 52, Sheet 2, have passed through their respective jaws, and are then lowered until said cones are seated on said jaws. drum 13fis'set winding up, so as to pull the train of travelers 52 and their attached tubs 50 to'wa'rd thewinding-engine. A rope, 15,

attached to the traveler 52 which is farthest from the engine, is passed around the sheaves 16, and'a gain attached to the reartraveler, 52 It thus follows that when the train 52 traveling on the near track, is pulled toward the left the train 52 on the far track is pulled toward the right. The trains pass each. other, and when train 52 has arrived in position over 10 it is arrested bythe buffers, such as av, Figs. 52 and 53, Sheet 2, and the counter-buffers on the frame-Work. When the train is stopped the cones lift until arrested by stops, such as 14, Figs. 52 .and 53, Sheet"2.' xAn. attendant "then pulls a bar, such as c, Fig. 52, Sheet 2, which connects the crank, such as at, Fig. 52, Sheet 2, ,to the left. This opens the jaws,

vsuch as 1), Sheet 2'. The tubs 59 are now lowered to the bottom of the trench by unwinding the drum '13, Fig. 57, Sheet 3. The empty 'tubs 50 are now unhooked, and four (not shown) which have been loaded while the former were gone are hooked onto the hoistingropes. This process is constantly repeated,

first on one side of the trench and then on the other. p

In the form of my system and apparatus just described there is provided a rail on each side the trench and a double-drum hoistingengine. If desirable for. any reason, one rail may be employed in place of two, using two sets of tubs in place of four; or two rails can be used and only one drum. In the latter case the tubs on boths'ides of the trench will be moved simultaneously, and some other power than the engine-used for hoisting will be employed in the rearward movement.

- It is also obvious that in place of trains of four travelers any other number may be employed.

After the excavation in 10 is completed the whole frame-work, supporting hoisting-engine and all the parts heretofore described, is

moved the length of one divisioniarther'from the completed sewer.

The principal advantages of this system and apparatus arev I First, that all operations of excavating, and moving the earth are carried on within and videdby the cross-braces into sections.

The drum 12 is now left loose, and the.

over; the trench. This is of especial value in city streets and on steep side hills.

Second, that several tubs can be hoisted simultaneously and moved to the rear simultaneously. Nearly all trenches must be di- It is of great convenience, and greatly favors .economy, to be able to excavate independently in several sections at once-a result attained by this system.

Third, that thenecessary power for hoisting, conveying to the rear, and-returning the several tubs is furnished by one engine.

Fourth, that .the tubs remain securely'at tached to the same ropes from the timethey leave thebottom until they return, no I'shifting taking place. This is valuable in'securin g from danger the men who are working.-below,

and adding to the celerit-y, therefore economy, of the moving ofearth.

Fifth, that the details of this apparatus are simple, easily made, and-not likely to get out of order.

Having thus described my invention and. shown its usefulness, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus for hoisting and moving earth in trenches, consisting of a single-track suspension-railway, travelers for hoisting and conveying, adapted thereto, a forward'draftrope branched for each traveler, tubs for holding material, and a. rear draft-rope, all combined substantially as shown and described.

2. In connection with an apparatus for hoisting and movingearth in trenches, the tub 50, having the hook c, the slide d,the' false bail e, and notched plate 9, also thehinged tripping-plates 1', combined substantially as described. 4 p

3. In connection with an apparatus for hoisting and moving eartlrin trenches, the hoisting-ropes m, having the eyebolt l, cone 'n, jaws p,-adjusting-chains z, small traveler 4,

turks head 3,.and' perforated timber stop 22,

hoisting-sheave r, the jaws in, the openingc'rank u, the connecting-bar 'u, the stop 14,

and the bufiers 00, combined with the rope m,

having cone at, substantially as described.

5. In connection with an apparatus for hoisting and moving earth in trenches, the suspension-railway 55, having the continuous fish-plates 6 and7, the suspending-rods 8, and clamps 9, combined substantially as shown and described. a

In testimony whereof I have affixed .my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD ADAMS CARSON. Witnesses:

ALBAN Annnitn, L. A. CLIFF.

IIO

. traveler 52, having the grooved wheels q, the Y 

